Duke   University   Libraries 

Message  of  the 
Conf  Pam  #296 

DTTDE57fl3D 


MESSAGE  0^  THE  PRESIDENT. 


RiciiMONP,  Ya.,  April  IG,   1863. 
To  the  House  of  Represkntativf.s  : 

Having  approved  and  signed  a  bill,  which  originated  in  your  body. 
entitled,  "  an  act  to  allow  minors  to  hold  commissions  in  the  army."'  I 
Jeem  it  due  to  many  meritorious  officers  in  the  service  to  make  a  short 
explanation. 

The  bill,  in  my  opinion,  is  only  declaratory  of  the  pre-existing  laAV. 
No  prohibition  existed,  prior  to  its  passage,  against  the  issue  of  com- 
missions either  in  the  permanent  or  provisional  army  to  person < 
under  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Many  of  the  commissioned  officers  of 
the  provisional  army  have  obtained  high  rank  by  election  and  pro- 
motion, before  attaining  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  The  only 
objection,  therefore,  that  I  could  entertain  to  signing  the  bill  in  ques- 
tion, was  based  on  the  apprehension  that  the  approval  of  an  act 
allowing  commissions  to  be  issued  to  minors  "  from  and  after  the  pas- 
sage of  the  act,"  might  imply  that  the  commissions  heretofore  issued 
to  minors  are  invalid. 

It  seemed,  however,  more  proper  to  sign  the  act  which  in  itself  was 
unobjectionable,  and  to  address  to  you  this  explanation,  which  will 
obviate,  it  is  believed,  the  only  ill  consequence  that  could  flow  from 
the  passage  of  the  law. 

JEFFERSON   DAVIS. 


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